This story I am about to share is something that I have dealt with for the past 3 months, (at least.) What I am about to share has torn me down left and right, but I have finally realized that it is what had to happen in order for me to become, well, me. I am a high school student, I love to go out with my friends, I work, I exercise, I do basically everything a teenage girl should do. Well, I DID. Around 3 months ago, I woke up one morning with a really sick feeling. I felt nauseas, tired, like I couldn’t do anything all day and I had to rest up. My first thought was “oh… sh**… I am pregnant.” I freaked out for days straight, and I isolated myself. I had my best friend bring me a test, I took it, and nope. not pregnant. I went to 2 different doctors for more official tests, nope. not pregnant. I was completely relieved considering I was no where near ready for a child, but still anxious as to why every morning I woke up I felt sick to my stomach. the sick mornings turned into sick days. days turned into weeks, weeks turned into months. I was in and out of hospitals trying to find out what was wrong with me, but every doctor I saw told me I was fine, take some nausea medicine, and go on your way. over time, I realized that something was completely off, and whatever is happening is not normal, AT ALL. I quit my job because i eventually couldn’t step foot outside my house without the urge to throw up. I would try to go on dates with my boyfriend, but the second I stepped foot outside, I would have to turn straight around. then, it all hit me at once. the 7 letter word. what had been my issue the whole entire time. ANXIETY. I had dealt with anxiety and depression before, but never to the paralyzing point. I mean seriously, a 17 year old girl who had completely fell off the face of the earth because on anxiety?! I thought it couldn’t be true. I became 100000 times more depressed than I once was, and I had lost everyone over it. I broke up with my boyfriend, my best friends wanted nothing to do with me because I couldn’t go out and have fun anymore, and I saw shame in my parents eyes. I became someone that no one knew, not even myself. over time, I knew that I couldn’t live this way anymore. it was time to kick anxiety right in its ugly face. I took it step by step, but I did it. I somehow managed to make it back to who I once was, although it seemed absolutely impossible from the outside. whatever you do, try to never let yourself have the mindset of “I don’t have to do ANYTHING, ever, literally.” thats what ruined me. stay of your too feet, and fight anxiety. whatever it takes, don’t lose 3 months or more of your life that you can never get back. LIVE.